Canal News – Dudley Canal Santa Special

Canal News

Dudley Canal Santa Special

Santa on a Narrowboat

14 – 15 Dec 2013
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Address

The Car Park
off the A4123
at Birmingham New Road
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 4SB

Take the kids to see Santa this Christmas in his underground grotto

There will be carols, hot drinks, mince pies, entertainment and gifts for all the children. These trips last an hour and run every 30 minutes. They are always very popular and places are limited so early booking is strongly advised.

For more information please call 0121 557 6265 or email info@dudleycanaltrust.org.uk

Canal News – Santa Comes to Audlem Wharf

 Old canalside crane, Audlem.

Outside the “Shroppie Fly”. This former industrial area in the Weaver valley was important for chemicals and salt. Today the traffic is more recreational.  The crane originally stood in the goods shed at the former Audlem railway station. In the early 1970s when the complex of warehouses on Audlem wharf was turned into the Shroppie Fly, the corrugated-iron shed that stood on this brick base was demolished and the old railway crane brought half a mile eastwards to form a feature in the new canalside development. [Thanks – Christopher Hilton]  © Copyright Colin Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Santa Comes to Audlem Wharf

29 Nov 2012

17:30 pm – 21:00 pm

It’s the big Christmas lights switch-on in Audlem and Santa is arriving by boat.

Join in the festive fun at Audlem with the big Christmas lights switch-on, the children’s Santa Parade from Audlem School and last but not least, Father Christmas himself arriving in Audlem Wharf by boat.

The festivities commence at 5pm with Santa set to arrive at 6pm. Late night shopping will follow.

Shropshire Union Canal near Audlem Wharf

  © Copyright David Martin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

  Audlem

Audlem stands at the intersection of the roads from Nantwich to Market Drayton and Newcastle to Whitchurch. The Shropshire border is just over a mile to the south on the Market Drayton road and about 3 miles to the east on the road to Woore and Newcastle. The parish includes the pretty hamlet of Coxbank situated about one mile to the south between the canal and A529.

The Shropshire Union Canal, with its run of 15 locks, runs through the village. The River Weaver passes by to the west of the village, and flows north through fine open countryside to Nantwich.

Adderley Locks, south of Audlem, Shropshire

There are five locks in the flight at Adderley, altogether altering the water level by thirty-one feet ( about nine and a half metres). This image, taken with some telephoto from Adderley Wharf Bridge (No 69) shows Lock Nos 1 and 2 with Wems Bridge. Massey’s Bridge is just visible in the distance.

The Shropshire Union Canal was opened fully by 1835, engineered by Thomas Telford. © Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Canal News – November 21st 2012

Canal News

November 21st 2012

Santa, Cllr Ken Savidge, Mrs Jo Savidge, the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield, Cllr George Wharmby

Santa cruises on the Chesterfield Canal

24 Nov – 23 Dec 2012

10:00 am – 16:30 pm

Book a boat trip with Santa along the Chesterfield Canal.

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a trip to see Santa. Book a special boat trip along the Chesterfield Canal and your child will meet Santa and get a present.

Mince pies and hot drinks are available for every adult.

Boat trips run all day every Saturday and Sunday from 24th November to 23rd December.

£6 per person. Booking essential. Please call 01246 551035.

 

Stret Lock 48, Chesterfield Canal, 25 November 2012

Come and watch us widening the lock to allow more boats to access the upper section of the Chesterfield Canal.

Stret Lock, Chesterfield Canal

The lock widening scheme here will involve taking down two of the of the outer brick courses on the towpath side and replacing it with one, increasing the width by 50mm. The wall will not be taken down fully to the lock floor but will extend beyond the minimum depth dimension for the canal.

We took detailed measurements of the lock in 2011 and determined that the actual minimum width through the lock was 6’10”. As the advertised maximum boat dimension is 6’11” it came as no surprise that boats were getting stuck! This work to the lock will enable boating customers to progress further up the canal section to enjoy this pleasurable waterway in addition to it being a very popular route for walking and cycling.

Before starting the stoppage, lock wall anchors will be installed to ensure the walls do not move over time and other maintenance such as lock chamber repairs will be carried out.

Location: Stret Lock, Chesterfield Canal, Worksop, off Sandy Lane, S80 3EZ

Time: 10-4pm (last entry strictly 3:15pm; site closes 3:45pm)

Parking: Available next to the lock next to the pub off Sandy Lane (S80 3EZ)

This year’s winter stoppage open day programme has been sponsored by May Gurney

Tapton Lock

A small visitor centre on the left, explaining this part of the Chesterfield canal and the wildlife that can be found in the area. There are also boat rides, the road bridge can be seen in the background.  © Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Museum Latest

Today, 31-10-2010, we have taken on loan some quite exceptional railway items.  They are models made entirely from matchsticks, even the display cases.

In addition to the models loaned to our museum, the owner has other models which we may also loan at some future date.  To give some indication of the work involved, there is a model of the ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ which is 48 inches long and contains 35,000 matches!

The models at Chasewater Railway Museum are:Bass No.9 loco and coachJinty No.47383And, finally, a coal wagon.

At virtually the same time, another of our loan exhibits, the ‘Princess Royal’ Class steam model left us briefly for Dave to work his magic with his paint brushes.  This loco will also be on display during the ‘Santa Specials’  month.

With these models on display in the museum and the Meccano display in the Heritage Centre, December shouold be quite a month!And, don’t forget – Santa will be here too!